Military Education Benefits
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is committed to supporting our military personnel. Just this July, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College received a grant designed to increase academic persistence and success among student service members and veterans. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College was one of twenty-one institutions of higher education in Indiana which received grants for the development of support programs and services for student service members and veterans. The grants were awarded through Operation Diploma, an initiative of the Military Family Research Institution through a $5.8 million gift from the Lilly Foundation. In addition, SMWC approved several scholarship programs starting August 1, 2009, that benefit military personnel as well as their spouse.
Yellow Ribbon Program
If you qualify for the Yellow-Ribbon Program and have 36 months of active duty, you may be able to attend SMWC free! The College recently announced that it would be participating in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Effective August 1 for the 2009-10 school year, SMWC’s participation in this program is made possible by the passage of the new post 9/11 GI Bill. Eligible veterans will receive the cost of tuition and fees, up to the most expensive in-state undergraduate tuition at a public institution of higher learning.
Because a private education is more costly than a public one, the Veterans Administration has added a new provision to the GI Bill called the Yellow Ribbon Program. Under this provision, SMWC has entered into an agreement with the Veterans Administration to scholarship up to 50% of the cost of tuition and fees that exceed the standard education benefit. The VA will then match the amount of the scholarship – completely covering the cost of tuition and fees for the veteran.
Spouse Benefits
SMWC has also extended its support to the spouses of military personnel and veterans. The College’s Military/Veteran Spouse Grant, which is a $3,000 Grant awarded to the spouse of military service members who have served on active duty or are currently serving in the reserves. The $3,000 grant is applied yearly toward the cost of tuition for all qualifying students who enroll for a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester. Grant is renewable for 6 years while the student maintains at least half-time status with satisfactory academic progress and enrolls in at least 2 semesters each academic year. Please provide the Financial Aid office with the following documents so we can process your grant:
* DD 214 or proof of service
* Marriage certificate
VA BENEFITS INFORMATION
SMWC is committed to providing a streamline process to certify eligible students for their VA benefits. Listed below are the document required for us to process your certification.
* DD214
* VA Educational Benefits Worksheet (see Forms & Resources, Miscellaneous)
* Certificate of Eligibility or NOBE
* VA Certification Form (this is required to be completed each semester, your benefits will NOT be certified until we receive this form for each period of enrollment). (See Forms & Resources, Miscellaneous).
If you need to request a DD214, Certificate of Eligibility or have questions regarding your benefits please call the VA at 800-827-1000.